David Lowery’s upcoming film Mother Mary opens with a dramatic flash: Anne Hathaway’s pop star character, Mother Mary, falls from a great height, caught by a rope in a strobe-lit scene reminiscent of a tarot card’s Hanged Woman. This image symbolizes surrender and a shift in perspective, hinting at themes of healing amid crisis.
Mystical Elements and Character Dynamics
The story blends mysticism with reality. Before viewers see Michaela Coel’s costume designer, Sam Anselm, her sing-song voice narrates a fable-like summons. Once close friends, Mother Mary and Sam parted painfully years ago. Sam’s dreams haunt her with a blood-red presence, suggesting an approaching force—perhaps Mother Mary or a deeper connection.
Lowery draws from his Arthurian film The Green Knight and A Ghost Story, weaving fairy-tale mysticism into everyday life. The narrative shifts from ethereal visions to the pop star’s privileged world.
The Reunion and Conflict
Mother Mary, absent from the spotlight after her fall, prepares for a major gig. Dissatisfied with her costume, she flies unannounced from Los Angeles to the UK, arriving at Sam’s countryside mansion. She pushes past assistant Hilda (Hunter Schafer) to confront Sam, whose dreadlocks evoke Medusa.
Sam uses the moment to design one final outfit while demanding accountability for past betrayals. In Sam’s barn workshop, filled with fabrics, they delve into shadows of their history, testing Mother Mary’s aversion to red amid flickering candlelight.
Standout Performances and Visuals
Hathaway channels jittery intensity, highlighting white privilege in her character’s demands. Coel excels as the enigmatic Sam, matching Hathaway in a battle of wills. Concert sequences dazzle, with Hathaway’s training shining through new songs by Charli XCX and Jack Antonoff, backed by Daniel Hart’s score.
Cinematography by Rina Yang and Andrew Droz Palermo delivers lush visuals, including a chilling Dublin séance featuring FKA Twigs. Practical effects and editing create time-bending shifts in the claustrophobic barn.
Themes of Fame and Symbolism
Symbolic nods abound: Sam’s name evokes divine protection, the number seven links earthly and divine realms, and costumes reference Joan of Arc. Sam quips about her ‘Havisham era’ in her Dickensian home. The film explores fame’s fleeting nature with campy flair, promising cult appeal.
Mother Mary arrives in cinemas May 14.
